2019 Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic Has Begun

The only free-entry fishing tournament on the Baja California Peninsula started strong with anglers catching lots of dorado and some impressive tuna on Nov. 19, 2019, as a fleet of 100-plus charter boats set out from two ports — Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo — for the seventh annual Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic. Only visiting anglers on Los Cabos charter boats are allowed to compete in the Charter Classic. After the port being closed for two days due to tropical storm conditions the skies cleared for the first day of fishing. The radio start from tournament director Dan Jacobs called for lines-in at 6:30 a.m., and the boats headed out to fish until 2:30 p.m. Most boats in San Jose Del Cabo came back to the docks by 1 p.m. for their half-day trips. Boats in Cabo San Lucas often fished until lines out.

BLUE MARLIN

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Day One Blue Marlin.

Several billfish releases were reported, with photos sent to tournament director Dan Jacobs. Most of the billfish released on day one were striped marlin with a blue caught by Aaron Booy and a large pacific spearfish caught by David Farley.

TUNA

The largest tuna of the day was caught by Kelly Grant from Alberta Canada aboard Paraquito in San Jose weighing 149.30-pounds winning $1,800 Second place tuna was also caught on Paraquito by Leah McLauglin from Alberta Canada weighing 93.50-pounds winning $900 and top lady angler honors. The third place tuna was caught aboard Curandero V in Cabo by Jacob Moseman from Penn Valley, CA weighing 27.70-pounds winning $635

FIRST PLACE - Kelly Grant from Alberta Canada aboard Paraquito in San Jose weighing 149.30-pounds

SECOND PLACE - Leah McLauglin from Alberta Canada weighing 93.50-pounds and top lady angler honors

WAHOO

In the Wahoo category Kevin Rogers from Denver CO caught a nice 39.10-pound wahoo aboard Bill Collector II taking first place and $1,800. Second place wahoo was caught by Angelo Trentadue from Racine, WI aboard Katie in San Jose weighing 25.60-pounds winning $900. In tournament fishing you never know what will win so always weigh your fish and lucky for Kimberly Craig from Flatonia, TX she did just that because her 6.30-pound wahoo caught on Karina in Cabo took third place winning $635.

FIRST PLACE - Kevin Rogers from Denver CO caught a nice 39.10-pound wahoo aboard Bill Collector II

SECOND PLACE - Angelo Trentadue from Racine, WI aboard Katie in San Jose weighing 25.60-pounds

THIRD PLACE - Kimberly Craig from Flatonia, TX weighing 6.30-pound wahoo caught on Karina

DORADO

The dorado were the most prevalent fish with many anglers coming to the scales and all of the winners fishing out of Cabo San Lucas. The top dorado was caught by Blake Craig from Flatonia, TX weighing 20.80-pounds caught on Karina winning $1,800. This topped off an amazing day for the Craig’s catching top dorado and third place wahoo for total winnings of $2435 on day one. The second place dorado weighing 19.20-pounds winning $900 for Tom Holste out of Chester, MD fishing on Bandito. Meredith Amador from Imperial Beach, CA fishing aboard Por Que No weighed a nice 19.10-pound dorado placing third winning $635.00

FIRST PLACE - Blake Craig from Flatonia, TX weighing 20.80-pounds caught on Karina

SECOND PLACE - Tom Holste out of Chester, MD fishing on Bandito weighing 19.20-pounds

THIRD PLACE - Meredith Amador from Imperial Beach, CA fishing aboard Por Que No weighed a nice 19.10-pounds

The top junior angler of the day was Kieran McSween from Valley Lake, CA catching a 15.10-pound dorado fishing aboard Renegade Mike in Cabo.